Finland’s TSO Pinpoints Five Offshore Wind Connection Areas

May 13, 2024, by Adnan Memija

Finland’s transmission system operator (TSO) Fingrid Oyj has identified five preliminary areas along the country’s west coast where offshore wind farms could be connected to the mainland grid by the 2030s. Now, the TSO is seeking feedback from stakeholders on defining the connection points more precisely.

The five areas that Fingrid has identified, as part of the study of possible connection points that was launched in 2023, are Ulvila, Närpiö, Vaasa, Raahe, and Raisio. In addition, the Inkoo area has been identified as a potential connection area if offshore wind power development becomes feasible in Finland’s southern sea areas, said Fingrid.

The TSO is now seeking feedback from stakeholders through a consultation until 23 June to define the connection points more precisely. Connection points will be reserved for individual customer projects as their development progresses.

To implement these gigawatt-scale offshore wind connections, additional investments of approximately EUR 600 million will be needed in Central Ostrobothnia, Southwest Finland, and Uusimaa, beyond the EUR 4 billion investment programme described in the TSO’s main grid development plan in 2023, Fingrid said.

Several gigawatt-scale offshore wind projects are planned for Finland’s sea areas. The TSO said it has received inquiries regarding connections for up to 95 GW of offshore wind power.

Fingrid also noted that it anticipates the country’s electricity consumption to approximately double from current levels by 2035, especially driven by industrial growth.

The total installed capacity of offshore wind power is expected to reach 6.5 GW by the end of the 2030s, corresponding to slightly over 30 TWh of annual production.

At the beginning of May, the Finnish government issued a negative decision on 16 applications for exploitation rights concerning offshore wind power in the exclusive economic zone saying that many of the areas located in the Gulf of Bothnia overlap each other.